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Lindsey Vonn responds to hate tweets: 'I sleep well at night'

Posted: 9:56 AM, Feb 17, 2018

Updated:2018-02-17 16:56:27Z

By:
CNN

Lindsey Vonn had barely finished her first race at PyeongChang 2018 when the online abuse resumed.

One of the most successful female ski racers of all time, Vonn had received comments in December from some people saying they hoped she'd break her neck after she told CNN in an interview she wouldn't visit the White House should she win a medal at the Winter Olympics.

"Well I hope to represent the people of the United States, not the president," the 33-year-old American had told CNN's Alpine Edge late last year.

Having missed out on the podium after making a costly mistake on the last turn of Saturday's women's super-G competition, Vonn once again found herself on the receiving end of a stream of negative comments, with some even wishing her physical harm.

The hate tweets prompted US soccer star Julie Foudy to write on Twitter: "I just spent last 20 min's reading thru tweets directed at @lindseyvonn. Sickened & disgusted once again by the lack of humanity that engulfs our country.

"She just raced her damn heart out & Trump supporters gloat/cheer/celebrate her inability to medal. Is this what we've become?"

Vonn was quick to thank Foudy for her support.

"It's ok Julie. Not everyone has to like me but my family loves me and I sleep well at night. I work hard and try to be the best person I can be. If they don't like me their loss I guess."

There was also plenty of support for Vonn, including people wishing her luck in her next race, the women's downhill, on February 21, in which she is a serious gold medal contender.

Although the online abuse of athletes has long been present in tennis, where disgruntled bettors often take to social media after losing money on matches, it seems to have now crossed over into the Olympics as well.

'Respect the athletes'

Earlier in the week, Canadian short track speed skater Kim Boutin turned her social media accounts to private after receiving online abuse -- including death threats -- after a controversial finish to the women's 500-meter race.

Boutin had won the bronze medal after South Korean medal hope Choi Min-jeong was disqualified for interfering.

Short track is one of the most popular sports in South Korea.

The Korean Herald newspaper reported Boutin's Twitter and Instagram accounts had attracted more than 10,000 comments from Korean fans, attacking the Canadian with abusive messages written both in Korean and in English.

"The health, safety and security of all our team members is our top priority and as such we are working closely with Speed Skating Canada, our security personnel and the (Canadian police)," the Canadian Olympic team said in a statement.

International Olympic Committe spokesman Mark Adams added: "None of us can control social media and the public has the right to say what they want but we would ask anyone to respect the athletes and respect their work.

"These Olympics are about bringing different countries together to compete in a spirit of friendship."